Hang Linton on making good trouble, second-hand iPods and playing Nottingham's woodworking studio

Tipped by BBC 6 Music, the NME and the Guardian, Hang Linton - who works across music, video and installation - was tour support for Benefits on their recent UK tour and have released a series of singles on Yard Act’s Zen F.C. label.

I was lucky to see you play in Nottingham earlier this year, at the Bodega as tour support for Benefits. How was that tour for you?

The tour was a challenge, I’ve never done eleven dates back to back like that before and my body took the toll but I felt so well supported by Kingsley, Robbie and Shakk. It was my first tour like that and I couldn’t have done it with anyone better.

Did you enjoy playing in Nottingham? I remember seeing in your IG stories that you ate a particularly good wrap while you were in town! 

I loved playing Nottingham! It reminded me of Leeds in that it’s got a great vibe and good buzz about town. I ate very well on tour tbh, our rider was very healthy, lots of spinach, hummus and protein bars. My go-to quick meal on the road was chips and salad.

I read that you are researching and developing an idea of creating a large-scale, interactive community synth machine, which could tour to different cities across the UK and Europe, which sounds awesome. How is that project developing?

The project is moving great, I built a little prototype synth with Wraa Labs and I am still researching by going to events with similar ideas. I am patient with this project and want to take my time. I had a tendency in the past to spread myself too thin with multiple projects and ideas going on. I want to focus on music and making sure the next project im going to release really takes off.

What other plans do you have for the future? Do you have any more releases coming up in 2025?

I am playing Supersonic Festival and I have other live dates across the UK planned to build towards the release of my next project, Apparitions. I see it as the other side of the coin to Demonstrations - darker, heavier but still potent in its message.

You spoke recently about the idea of making “good trouble, necessary trouble” – what does this mean to you? How do you think we can redeem the soul of the UK?

I think it’s important, now more than ever, to just care. Not be passive and speak up against what is wrong. Take action and live a life of truth and love. I don’t know if the soul of the UK is redeemable, as it is so heavily poisoned by its colonial past. I do however think we can build towards something new by focusing on education and equity for all.

What is your favourite song to perform live at the moment? Why is that?

It is definitely Mad Dogs. While on tour I challenged myself to play the guitar part while singing and up until then it felt impossible. But I done it! This song for me is a symbol of my growth and it makes me so happy when I play it. The audience also always goes mad for it so yeah, all round great track!

When you visit Nottingham on 16 August you are performing at By Our Hands We Make Our Way, which – by day - is a woodworking studio. What’s the most unusual venue you’ve ever played in?

I’ve played a couple of odd spots for sure. I think up there is a squat rave in Berlin, or under a bridge in Ouseburn, Newcastle.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your music?

A funky blend of electro punk, psych rock and breakbeats that carries a potent political message about our day-to-day experiences as the working class.

What music have you been listening to lately?

I recently treated myself to a second hand iPod which was full of the person’s music collection, so I’ve been listening to a lot of classic rock and 00s indie like The Hives and The Beatles. I missed stuff like that because it wasn’t in my house when growing up. Right now in my 5 disc hi-fi sits Melvins, Mastodon, Barry White, TV on the Radio and Black Eyed Peas.

The show on 16 August is an intimate show – part of a series put on by Nottingham-based promoters Hello Thor Records which is supported by Arts Council England under its Supporting Grassroots Music programme. What does grassroots music mean to you?

Grassroots music means everything to me, this is the ecosystem that supports my existence. Without the venues I’d have nowhere to play and hone my craft. I really wish that we put an end to festivals being such a big thing, there’s too many of them now. All prices are inflated, from food and drink to tickets. Artists still don’t get paid well and it’s all become part of the capitalist machine. In an ideal world, people would take the amount they spend at a festival and instead visit their local venue and support their local scene throughout the year. There are no future headliners without the grassroots, and just like a beautiful garden we must take care. 

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Just do it. Be messy, make mistakes, nothing is ever perfect and never will be, but take the steps and enjoy the journey.

Hang Linton performs live at By Our Hands We Make Our Way on Saturday 16 August, along with Soborgnost (sci-fi dance punk) and Giant Spandex Head (experimental rap meets glitch-pop). Tickets are £7.70 in advance and £10 on the door. 

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